Goa Children’s Court on Thursday acquitted one Yeshwant 'Dadu' Gawas (31), resident of Amona, Bicholim from the charges of kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl in 2013.
According to the complaint filed by the victim's mother, on April 1, 2013, the accused enticed her minor daughter, kidnapped her and took her to an unknown place.
Later, on April 17, 2013, the police traced Gawas at Jyoti lodge at Dharwad in Karnataka while also rescuing the minor girl.
Victim's statement was recorded in the presence of NGO Childline wherein she stated that the accused had sexually exploited her.
The victim and the accused were sent to the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim for medical examination and specimens collected during the examination were sent for further tests at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Hyderabad.
However, CFSL report submitted to the court revealed that no semen or blood was detected on the exhibits attached by the police in the case.
The accused was booked under Section 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code, Section 4 and 8 (penetrative sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Section 8 (2) (sexual assault) of Goa Children's Act, 2003.
Old Goa Police Inspector Krishna Sinari investigated the matter which was argued before the Court by Public Prosecutor Krishna Sanzgiry and defence counsel Udai Naik.
